Workplaces offering free flu shots

This year could be one of the worst flu seasons in years, with 47 out of 50 states reporting wide spread cases of the virus.

Boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer at work and at school are very common now as people try to take cover from the sickness.

Health experts say the single best way to prevent the flu is to get the yearly flu shot.

To help promote that, several companies have been offering free flu shots at work.

ADT, a nationwide home security company, is headquartered in South Florida. There and at its national sales center in Jacksonville, the company set up a clinic and gave employees the chance to get the flu shot at work for free.

At Blue Cross Blue Shield's headquarters in Jacksonville, free flu shots have been offered at the office for years. This year, the company partnered with CVS to get people vaccinated at work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates flu outbreaks cost employers in the U.S. $10.4 billion in hospitalizations and outpatient visits. That doesn't even include other costs associated with sick employees, like the loss of productivity and people missing work.

The CDC has created a toolkit for employers called "make it your business to fight the flu." It includes flyers for businesses to use if promoting a flu shot clinic at the office, a podcast and some strategies.